High Fidelity

Rows and rows of CDs, a fair sprinkling of dust, water-damanged vinyl sleeves. What does a music store mean to you? In some cities there are still thriving record shops that are frequented by music lovers, serious collectors and hipster kids, but the sad truth is that music and media stores all around our country are closing their doors every day. Even chain stores like Borders, F.Y.E. and the various stores owned by Value Music Concepts have been closing stores rapidly. Finger pointing is useless at a time like this and really the only thing we can do is to support what music stores we have left. Visit that tiny, weird shop your friend told you about, the one between the insurance place and the bank. The one that's open for only five hours a day. Walk in and look around, buy something small, try out a new artist. Talk to the owner. Buy a present for a friend. Collect something strange. Any support you can give your local music store will count for something and buy us a few more days before Wal-Mart will be the only physical location where we can buy music. And it will be appreciated.

This blog is the brainchild of a music lover, a music store employee and a novelist all rolled into one easily distracted but deeply passionate writer. In the last days of music stores, I want to share the special joys, excitement and strange magic of working in a place where music is provided directly into the hands of music lovers.